Kruševac – Trstenik – Vrnjačka Banja 30-kilometers-long segment of the Morava Corridor was opened on the 22nd, and was opened to public the following day from 9 o’clock in the morning. President Vučić stated how proud he was of Serbia because it is a country that worked, built, was developing, as well as some people, in our country and abroad, would never understand – that people who had ideals worth fighting and making sacrifices for, would never win.
Before he formally opened the highway segment, President Vučić had held a meeting with Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, Minister of Finance Siniša Mali, Minister for Public Investment Darko Glišić, Director of Corridors of Serbia Aleksandar Antić, President for Inrastructure of Bechtel Daren Mort, and Presdient of Management Board of Turkish Enka Mahmet Tara in attendance.
In the meeting discussions, Minister of Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić, Minister of Tourism and Youth Husein Memić, State Secretary in Ministry of Construction Aleksandra Damjanović (appointment suggested by the National Assembly), as well as USA Ambassador Christofer Hill, et al, were also present.
In his statement to the media, Mayor Manojlović expressed that the opening of the segment is helpful to the citizens.
“Kruševac is one of the cities that has earned this highway. The results are already palpable, as well as the benefits in the form of shorter trips, economy, and cost savings in transport activities. There will be a change in the traffic structure, meaning fewer traffic jams caused by the transit transportation through in the city itself”.
At the rally taking place after the meeting, President Vučić addressed the people in attendance:
“I am happy to be with you today. We are witnessing history. Nobody has cared this much about Central Serbia, a lot has been done. I am proud because this will bring many jobs and investors. The best and widest highway has been built in Serbia, built by successful Serbia. I promise that we will build a new fast and life-changing traffic road. Serbia is on the rise, increasing salaries and pensions, and builds traffic roads and railroads. Thanks to you who wanted and cared about Serbia’s development, we managed to be ranked second by growth rate, and every citizen will feel it through their incomes. We are building a bridge connecting Stopanja and Drenova very soon, Belgrade – Čačak highway, we are doing everything for our people in the Rasina District, not only opening factories but also building road infrastructure. This highway was expensive but successful Serbia managed to finish it” – said President Vučić.
He promised a fast traffic road covering Kraljevo and Baljevac, Ušće, Raška and Novi Pazar.
Morava Corridor is a 112-kilometers-long Vrnjačka Banja – Adrane highway, and construction should be complete by 2025. Government of Serbia signed a commercial contract worth 745 million EUR with the US-Turkish consortium Bechtel Enka to build the Morava Corridor. The construction started five years ago, connecting places where around 500.000 people live – Kraljevo, Kruševac, Vrnjačka Banja, and Trstenik. Morava Corridor consist of three segments: Pojate – Kruševac (27.8 km), Kruševac – Adrani (53.8 km) and Adrani – Mrčajevci – Preljina (30.6 km) .
It is the widest and the first digital highway in Serbia (optical cables and digital equipment providing free wi-fi and traffic management system will be placed along the highway). It is projected for 130km/h speed, 11 loops, 71 bridges, 23 overpasses, 5 underpasses, and 31 culverts. Before, 28 kilometers of the corridor had been opened to traffic (Pojate – Makrešane, and Makrešane – Koševi near Kruševac).
Kruševac – Trstenik – Vrnjačka Banja segment, consisting of 4 traffic loops and toll booths: “Koševi” who would be opened soon, “Velika Drenova”, “Trstenik”, and “Vrnjačka Banja”, which will connect the people living there to the newly-built highway. Additionally, within this segment, 34 bridges and overpasses had been built (4.2 km in total). From 4 bridges over the West Morava, the longest bridge on this segment is the 711-meters-long bridge near Trstenik.
The Morava Corridor Project entails the hidrotechnical management of the West Morava (60 km), which would protect the highway from the water of the river, and would increase the protection from floods, having a positive effect on citizens and economy of this area.
The 30-meters-wide highway (two meters wider than the rest) is built for driving at 130 km/h, ensuring comfort and driving safety. The travel time from Pojate to Vrnjačka Banja is decreased by 30 minutes, and trip from Vrnjačka Banja to Belgrade will take 2 hours, which is helpful during the winter season on Kopaonik, the largest ski center in Serbia, as the trip to there will be much faster and safer.
Simultaneously with the counstruction of this segment, the construction of the rest of the Project is underway (Vrnjačka Banja – Preljine, 54 km). This new highway significantly contributes to the development of local self-governments through which it passes, connecting 500.000 inhabitants of the area.
Morava Corridor connects Rasina, Raška and Morava District.
Beside the President, the representative of Bechtel Enka Darren Mort, Ambassador of Turkiye Ilhan Saygili, and US Ambassador Christopher Hill held speeches.
They expressed gratitude and pleasure for the successful collaboration on the realization of this significant project and support they had had in the Governemtn of the Republic of Serbia.
